THE EXECUTIVE of the Police Officers Association (POA) yesterday expressed concern over the delay in paying out death benefits to relatives of policemen killed in the line of duty."We are concerned about the well-being of the men and women we command," said Senior Superintendent Novlette Grant. "Why should there be any delay for the payment of death benefits to the families of Constable Christopher Dunkley and others who were killed while on duty?"
Constable Dunkley was killed by gunmen while on duty in the guardroom of the Bridgeport Police Station, South St. Catherine, in April, 1998.
The POA is also concerned over the non-delivery of over 5,000 ballistics vests and helmets which they have asked the Ministry of National Security for.
"Up to now we have not heard anything from the Government in respect to the protective gears. We were scheduled to meet with the National Security Minister, K.D. Knight, on March 6, but because of a funeral the meeting was postponed," Inspector Merrick Watson, Chairman of the Police Federation, told The Gleaner.
As it relates to the death benefits, Inspector Watson explained that 11 files have been submitted to the Attorney-General's office, which will determine if the policemen had died in the line of duty.
According to the executive of the POA, a policeman is never off duty, because if he were to witness a crime being committed, despite having left his place of work at the end of his shift, then it is likely that he could be charged if the matter was brought to the attention of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP).
